Jessica Pegula is off to a flying start at the US Open, blitzing into the third round without dropping a set.
While many of the eyes are on reigning champion Coco Gauff and world number two Aryna Sabalenka, who is back to her blistering best, Pegula will fancy her chances at going deep.
Having never progressed further than the quarter-final of a major, the American will feel as if this is her best chance yet after hitting the ground running in North America.
Pegula successfully defended her title at the Canadian Open before making an impressive run to the Cincinnati final the following week.
Now, the world number six is underway in New York and seemingly with a point to prove.
Pegula put the nail in the coffin of Shelby Rogers’s career before battling past former grand slam champion Sofia Kenin to book her spot in the third round.
Why did Jessica Pegula head straight back to practice after US Open win?
After a nervy first set, which was decided in a tiebreak, Jessica Pegula pulled clear of Kenin to triumph in straight sets, winning 7-6(4), 6-3.
Kenin, having sent Emma Raducanu packing in the first round, is not to be taken lightly, so Pegula will be pleased with her performance.
However, she claimed afterward that she wasn’t completely satisfied with her showing and decided to head straight back to the practice courts following the conclusion of the match.
“I went and hit some returns,” Pegula said in a press conference. “I don’t do it that often, but I felt like I wasn’t returning that great so I went and hit a couple more returns.
“I have a day off tomorrow, so I had some time and the court was open. I don’t always do it, usually, it’s serves or something but it has to be something specific for me to go out there.”
Can Pegula go deep at the US Open?
Pegula played in all three events at the US Open last year and was thwarted in the fourth round of the singles.
This time around, she has opted to focus all her efforts on singles, recognising the opportunity she has to progress deep at her native grand slam.
Her section of the draw has opened up nicely with compatriot Danielle Collins falling at the first hurdle in her final appearance in New York before retiring.
Pegula now has a relatively clear route to the quarter-final, where she is projected to face world number one Iga Swiatek.
It would be an eagerly-anticipated clash, but one that the American will relish on her preferred surface.
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